Inclosed switch



Z SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Nov. 2", 1919.

C. D. PLATT.

INCLOSED SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MNH?, I9I9A C. D. PLATT.

INCLOSED SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.2, I9I9.

Pntent'cd Nov. 2^", 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Y WJNH A k CLARENCE D. PLATT, 0F BRIDGEPOBT, CONNECTICUT.

INCLOSED SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

'Application led January?, 1919. Serial No. 269,233.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE D. PLATT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bridgeport, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Inclosed Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention is an inclosed switch and the objects of this invention generally are to improve switches of this character by making them more safe and positive in operation, and to provide for the lockin of the switch inclosure in the open as wel as in the closed condition of the switch circuit.

Briefly stated, the invention may be said to reside in the combination with the switch inclosure, embodying box and cover members, of cooperating switch mechanism and switch operating means mounted in the respective members, and -interlocking mechanlsm on the one member and on the switch operating means on the other member for securing the cover member closed and `the operating means interlocked with the switch mechanism when the switch operating means is actuated to close the switch.

`Another feature isithe provision of cooperating securing means on the one member and on. the switch operating means of the other member of the boX for securing the cover member closed also when the operating means is shifted to the circuit-open position.

Various other features of the invention and the details of construction will be made clear as the speciiication proceeds and will be understood from the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated the invern tion embodied in a practical and preferred form.

In said drawings Figure 1, is a front or plan View of a switch constructed in accor ance with and embodying the invention, one corner of the cover being shown as brokenaway.

Fig. 2, is a cross sectional view thereof taken substantially on the plane of the line 2-2-of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a longitudinall section-al view taken substantially on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, is a side elevation of the switch as locked in the open circuit condition.

The switch inclosure is in the form of a box-like structure embodying a body member 5 and a cover member 6, the latter being movable with respect to the former and shown as connected thereto by a hinge joint 7.

The `'switch mechanism illustrated con-v sists of a switch base 8 secured to the bot tom or 'back of the box member and supporting on its face separated contacts 9 and 10 for engagement by the laminated spring contacts 11 and 12 which are mounted on a and' fuse carrier is effected in the illustration by the pivoted toggle links 17A and 18 which are connected at their outer ends at 19 with the posts and at their inner ends at 20 with the carrier.

This switch mechanism which is mounted within the box is shown as protected by an insulating guard 21 provided with apertures 22 through which the fuses proj ect when the switch is in the open circuit position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The switch operating means which is mounted in the cover member consists in the presentv disclosurel` of the rock shaft 23 journaledin the side walls of the cover and provided with dependent rocker arms operating between the spaced shoulders 24 and 25 on the pivotfd toggle links to effect the making and 4breaking of the toggles and.

hence the closing and opening of the switch.

These dependent arms are shown as formed as part of a bracket member 26 secured to the rock shaft. These bracket arms, it will be seen in Fig. 2, form stops limiting the lateral shifting movement of the rock shaft 'and a spring washer 27 is shown interposed between one of these arms and the adjacent side wall of the cover for frictionally and releasably retaining the rock shaft in the position to which it is turned.

The rock shaft is operated by a handle 28 secured on the outer extended end of the same and this handle is provided with an extension 29 projecting beyond the pivotal axis of the handle and carrying the inwardly projecting lug or stud 30 positioned to engage beneath the locking shoulder 31 on the boX when the handle is thrown to the circuit-closed position.

The stop shoulder described is provided in the present disclosure by means of plates or laminations 32 and 33 of sheet metal built up to .provide the necessary thickness and strength and secured to the side wall of the box as by rivets or other suitable fastenin 34.

lThese laminations have coincident lower aces engage the locking lug on the andle when the cover lis moved in a closing direction with the handle in the circuit-closed position, thus forming a guard to prevent clo-y sure of the cover with `the handle in such circuit-closed position. The laminationsy are also shown provided on their under faces at the end of the track forming the locking shoulder, with a stop shoulder 37, which by engagement with the locking pin limits the switch closing movement of the handle.

The movement of the operating handle in a. switch-opening direction is limited by a stop 38 on the back of the handle positioned to engage with the top surface of the cover and a similar stop 39 is shown provided on the back of the handle at the opposite side of its axis for engagement with the upper surface of the cover to limit the throw of the handle in the opposite direction when the cover is open.

Provision is made for lookin the handle in the open-circuit position, t e same for this purpose consisting in the illustration, of an outstanding lug 40 on the inner or extended end of the handle adapted to register in the circuit-open position of the handle with an outstanding lug or bracket 41 on the box, said lugs having separate registering openings 42 and 43 to receive separate and independent padlocks 44 and 45. This con: struction enables the locking of the Switch inthe off position byv different linemen working on the same circuit and prevents the closing of the switch by one lineman to the injury of the other.

It will be noted that the automatic interlock described secures the cover and prevents opening of the same when the switch is in the circuit-closed lcondition and similarly the coperatin lock mechanism last described may be use to lock the cover closed and prevent opening of the same twhen the swltch is in the circuit-openposiion.

In order that the condition of the switch may be known at all times I have shown an indicator in the form of an arcuate member 46 on the rock shaft and bearing suitable designations visible through a window or opening 47 in the cover. p,

I claim 1. In a switch of the character described, the combination of a box having a movable cover, switch mechanism in said box, means for operating said switch mechanism mounted in the cover and disengageable from the switch mechanism on the openin of the cover and engageable with the switc mechanism on the czising of the cover, a. shoulder on the box and a locking lug carried by vthe switch operating means on the cover and positionedI to paf-f. beneath the shoulder on the box upon the switch closing movement of said operating means when the cover is closed to thereby secure the cover closed with the operating means interlocked with the switch mechanism and to pass free of said shoulder upon the switch-opening movement of said operating means to thereby permit opening of the cover when the switch is thrown to o en position.

2. In a switch of t e character described, the combination of a box having a movable cover, switch mechanism in said box, means for operatin said switch mechanism mounted in t e cover and disengageable from the switch mechanism on the opening of the cover and engageable with the switch mechanism on the closing of the cover, a shoulder on. the box, a locking lug carried by the switch operating means on the cover and ositioned to pass beneath the shoulder on t 1e box upon the switch closin movement of said operatin means w en the cover is closed to there y secure the cover closed with the operating means interlocked with the switch mechanism and a stop shoulder on the box positioned to be engaged by the locking lug on the cover when attempt is made to close the cover with the operating means in the switch closed position.

3. In a switch of the character described, a box member and a coperating cover member, switch mechanism mounted in one of said members, switch operating means mounted in the other of said members and having an external handle art and an internal part engageable with the switch mechanism upon the closing of the cover and disengageable therefrom upon the o ening of the cover, a locking lug carrie by the external part of the operating means on the one member and an external shoulder carried by the member. containin the switch mechanism and positioned to ave the lpckinglug pass beneath and interlock therewith upon switch-closing movement of the operating means with the cover closed, whereby to secure the cover member closed and the operating means interlocked with the switch mechanism.

4. In a switch of the character described an inclosure comprising a box member and a coperating cover member, switch mecha.- nism in one of said members and switch operating means in the other of said members engageable with the switch mechanism uponclosing of the cover and disengageable als therefrom upon opening of the cover and said operating means including a pivoted handle having a swinging extension projecting beyond the oint of pivotal support of the handle, a loc ing lug carried by said swinging handle extension and a shoulder on the member containing the switch mechanism positioned to be engaged by and interloc ed with the lockin lug upon the switch closing movement o the operating means with the cover member in closed position.

5. In a switch, an inclosure comprising cooperating box and cover members, switch mechanism in one of said members, switch operating means in the other ofi said members engageable with the .switch mechanism on closing of the cover and disengageable therefrom upon opening of the cover, an external locking lug carried by said switch o rating means and external stop means on t e member containing the switch mechanism and comprising a series of plates provided at one edge with a vco-extensive stop face for engagement by the locking lug to secure the cover member closed and one of said plates being extended at its opposite edge to rovide a stop for engagement by the locking lug when attempt is made to close the cover with the operating means in the switch-closed position.

`6. In combination, a` switch box having a movable cover, switch mechanism in the box, a rock shaft pivoted in the cover, de-

pendent `means on said rock shaft for operativelyengaging the switch mechanism when the cover 1s closed, a handle on one end of said rock shaft provided with stops at opposite sidesof the axis thereof for engagement with the cover tolimit the swinging movement o:` the handle when the cover is open, a locking "shoulder on the box and a locking lug on the handle positioned to engage beneath the locking shoulder when the handle is moved in a switch-closing direction with the cover inclosed position.

7 In combination,` aswitch box having a movable cover, switch mechanism in the box, a rock shaft pivotedin the cover, dependent means on said.V rock shaft for operatively engaging the switch mechanism when the cover is closed, a handle on one end of `said rock shaft provided with stops at oppohandle is moved inagswitch-closing direction with the cover in "closed position, and

means for releasabl securing the handle in the position to w ich it is turned when the cover is opened and the operating connections are disengaged from the switch mechanism.

8. v In combination, a switch box having a movable cover, switch mechanism in the box, a rock shaft pivoted in the cover, dependent means on said rock shaft for operatively engaging the switch mechanism when the cover ,is closed, an indicator mounted on said rock shaft, a handle on one end of the rock shaft, a locking lug carried by said handle and a stop shoulder on the box positioned to be engaged by said locking lug when said handle is moved in a switch-closing direction and the cover is closed.

9. In combination, a switch box having a movable cover, switch mechanism mount-l ed within said box, switch operating means mounted in the cover and including a rocking handle, external coperating stops on said handle and box for securing the cover closed when the handle is thrown in -a switch-closing direction and locking means including parts on the handle and box for securing the cover closed and locking the handle when the handle is thrown to the switch-open position;

ll0. In combination, a switch box having a movable cover, switch mechanism mounted in said box, switch operating means mounted in the cover and including a rocking handle, coperating stops on said handle andv box for securing the cover closed when the tion and coperating locki means on the handle and box for securing te cover closed when the handle is thrown to the switch-open position, said latter means including lugs on the handle and box having each a plurality' of separated apertures registering inthe offcircuit position of thel handle t0 enable the engagement therewith of a plurality of padlocks under the control of different individuals.

11. In combination, a switch box having a movable cover, switch mechanism mounted in the box, a rock shaft journaled in the cover, dependent bracket arms secured to said rock shaft providing stops limiting th'e longitudinal movement of the rock shaft in the cover and engageable with the switch mechanism in the box for operating the same, a handle on Ithe rock shaft, and interlocking mechanism' on the box"and cover respectively for preventing opening of the cover with the switch in closed-circuit position.

CLARENCE D. PLATT. 

